In the Tri-Nation Series final, South Africa fell short by 7 runs in the last six balls.
With Dewald Brevis’s explosive batting, the match seemed to be in South Africa’s hands. They needed 7 runs in the final over with George Linde at the crease alongside Brevis. But Matt Henry dashed their hopes with brilliant bowling, dismissing both Brevis and Linde to secure an incredible victory for New Zealand.
The thrilling final took place in Zimbabwe on Saturday, where the Kiwis defended a total of 180 by bowling out their opponents for 177.
New Zealand won the Tri-Nation Series undefeated.
Henry was undoubtedly the star of the final. When the match was slipping away, he turned the tide with the ball. In the final over, he started with a dot ball and then bowled Brevis out, caught brilliantly by Michael Bracewell at the boundary.
Henry had another chance to take a wicket on the third ball but Bracewell dropped a catch, allowing South Africa to score 2 runs. With 4 runs needed off the last two balls, Linde was caught brilliantly by Darryl Mitchell on the fifth ball. On the final delivery, Senuran Muthusamy failed to connect with the bat, sealing the win for New Zealand.
Henry finished with 2 wickets for 19 runs in 3 overs. He was named Man of the Match and also received the Player of the Series award, having taken 10 wickets in four matches.
South Africa started well but ultimately fell short. Openers Lungi Ngidi and Rassie van der Dussen gave them a flying start with a 92-run partnership. Ngidi was dismissed in the 10th over after scoring 51 off 35 balls, including 2 sixes and 5 fours, stumped by Bracewell. Hendricks also made 37 before being dismissed.
Rusie van der Dussen and Rubin Herman struggled to keep the innings going, and just when defeat seemed imminent, Brevis offered hope with a quickfire 37 off 18 balls.
Brevis hit a six off the 18th over bowler Jack Fox and then hammered two sixes off Jacob Duffy in the next over, bringing South Africa close to the target.
But with 6 wickets in hand and 7 runs needed in the last over, they couldn’t cross the line.
Brevis played a cameo innings of 31 runs off 16 balls with 3 sixes and 1 four.
New Zealand’s innings also started strongly at Harare Sports Club. Openers Tim Seifert and Devon Conway shared a 75-run opening partnership.
Neither batsman made a half-century, with Seifert scoring 30 off 1 six and 3 fours, and Conway scoring 47 off 31 balls, hitting 1 six and 6 fours.
Rachin Ravindra also made 47 runs off just 27 balls with 2 sixes and 4 fours, helping New Zealand build a strong total along with useful contributions from the middle order.
The Kiwi bowlers then executed a fine bowling performance to defend their total and clinch the victory.
Brief Scores
- New Zealand: 180/5 in 20 overs (Seifert 30, Conway 47, Ravindra 47, Chapman 3, Mitchell 16*, Bracewell 15, Santner 3*; Ngidi 4-0-24-2, Burger 4-0-41-1, Mafaka 4-0-35-1, Linde 1-0-9-0, Muthusamy 3-0-27-1, Bash 4-0-38-0)
- South Africa: 177/6 in 20 overs (Pretorius 51, Hendricks 37, van der Dussen 18, Herman 11, Brevis 31, Linde 10, Bash 3*, Muthusamy 0*; Henry 3-0-19-2, Duffy 4-0-36-1, Fox 3-0-36-1, Milne 4-0-27-1, Santner 3-0-29-0, Bracewell 3-0-29-1)
Result: New Zealand won by 3 runs
Man of the Match: Matt Henry
Man of the Series: Matt Henry
